You know what really grinds my gears?

[NolanRyansSnowmonkey]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

I didn't realize that individual franchisees have the broad latitude to replace their soda machines/suppliers at their discretion. I thought soda companies and what-not spend tons of money tying up contracts as exclusive providers or purveyors so that all stores will feature their products (like how Mcdonald's only serves Coca-Cola products, etc), so it seems weird to me that an individual franchise can do whatever it wants. Anyway, not having Dr. Pepper is a definite party foul and worthy of formal protest.

Taco Bell is so low on the overall food chain (even by fast food standards) but I'd be lying if I didn't say I go there just about as often as I am able. I don't live near one (which is good), but when I did, I must have spent a small fortune there, $6-8 dollars at a time. Although I was surprised by how inflation/price creep has happened over time; the last time I was there, I think I spent like $15, which for me is a mind-blowing amount to spend at a Taco Bell. I remember being able to get out of there with a bag-load of food for like $5.

I thought so too on the fast-food franchises. I always understood Taco Bell to be one of the "Pepsi" places. They never carry Coke, only Pepsi products. The beauty of Dr Pepper, is it is usually carried by both "Coca Cola" stores, and "Pepsi" stores (Unless the Coke places get real serious and carry Mr Pibb instead). But its pretty rare to find a place without Dr Pepper. I am not sure how this franchise got to choose all of its own drinks.

Im tempted to break my own vow and step back into that Taco Bell just to see what the cold drink situation is. Im betting they are back to normal name-brand drinks by now, becsuse Im sure they received a lot of complaints.

[NolanRyansSnowmonkey]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

I didn't realize that iAlthough I was surprised by how inflation/price creep has happened over time; the last time I was there, I think I spent like $15, which for me is a mind-blowing amount to spend at a Taco Bell. I remember being able to get out of there with a bag-load of food for like $5.

Yeah i noticed this too, after not visiting the Bell for a few years. When i played baseball we would go there after practice almost every day because it was cheapest place in town to eat. 3 Tacos and small drink that i refilled about 8 times per vist. I think tacos were like 59 cents lol. (I wanted more but the extra taco per day wasnt in the budget). Now they seem on-par with every other fast food joint.

Speaking of grinding gears, i had a very rare craving for Root Beer on hot day a while back. So i dropped by Dairy Queen and got a small root beer. When she rang it up for about $2.50 i nearly had a Dairy Cow. I paid for it but that root beer tasted horrible after that.

[Mabster]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

I rarely eat fast food but sometimes it's a must like on road trips. The last time I did (Arby's) I was shocked that it cost so much. Used to be able to eat for under five bucks. If I'm paying excess of $20 to feed the wife and I, I'd rather mom & pop it and buy a $10+ burger of better quality every single time.

[NolanRyansSnowmonkey]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

I rarely eat fast food but sometimes it's a must like on road trips. The last time I did (Arby's) I was shocked that it cost so much. Used to be able to eat for under five bucks. If I'm paying excess of $20 to feed the wife and I, I'd rather mom & pop it and buy a $10+ burger of better quality every single time.

Lol. Funny you mentioned Arby's. My wife and i like Arby's, and we went into an Arby's recently, saw the prices on the menu, and walked out. We went across the street to an actual restaurant and ate a much better meal for a few dollars more than we would have spent at Arby's. Its all about what you get for your $.

On the road trip subject, i have a slightly different take. We try to avoid fast food places as much as possible on road trips, and try to eat something or somewhere we've never experienced before. Sometimes though, i get that for convenience or time's sake it must be done. We finally ate at a McDonald's in Alabama the other day, on one of our last days of this latest road trip. Because we wanted to keep it moving.

[dubcity]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

I rarely eat fast food but sometimes it's a must like on road trips. The last time I did (Arby's) I was shocked that it cost so much. Used to be able to eat for under five bucks. If I'm paying excess of $20 to feed the wife and I, I'd rather mom & pop it and buy a $10+ burger of better quality every single time.

Arby's has a bad combination of higher cost and smaller portions. Jack in the box is like that too. McDonalds and Taco Bell are like the opposite.

[thaima1shu]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

I miss the days of Arby's doing 5 for $5 roast beef sandwiches.

[mgoblue]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

Arby's has a bad combination of higher cost and smaller portions. Jack in the box is like that too. McDonalds and Taco Bell are like the opposite.

Wendy's is a bit more expensive too...I like their burgers, but we tend to default to McDonalds cause it ends up cheaper. Not a big BK fan personally.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

Of the 3.

Wendy's > Burger King > McDonalds

Unfortunately for me, my town closed the only Wendy's we had about 5 years ago. So now if I want Wendy's I have to drive 55 miles. Arby's food always tasted too salty to me so I never liked them. No Arby's out here anyway. Had McDonalds last week, their burgers were dry as hell. Don't know what they did to that meat, but it was DRY.

One thing I hate about Vermont, the lack of national chain places. Growing up in Chicago you could walk 3 to 4 blocks in ANY direction and find a fast food place. I miss that variety and ease of access.

[NolanRyansSnowmonkey]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

Of the 3.

Wendy's > Burger King > McDonalds

Unfortunately for me, my town closed the only Wendy's we had about 5 years ago. So now if I want Wendy's I have to drive 55 miles. Arby's food always tasted too salty to me so I never liked them. No Arby's out here anyway. Had McDonalds last week, their burgers were dry as hell. Don't know what they did to that meat, but it was DRY.

One thing I hate about Vermont, the lack of national chain places. Growing up in Chicago you could walk 3 to 4 blocks in ANY direction and find a fast food place. I miss that variety and ease of access.

I've always thought Wendy's burgers were too dry lol. Maybe it isn't the meat. I think its the bread. Too much bread? Dry bread? Not sure. Never been a fan of Wendy's, but its not horrible. I do like their baked potatoes though. If they still do that.

Ive always had a hard time comparing McDonald's (or most other fast food burgers) to any other burger. They really dont even taste like burgers, theyre just shaped like burgers lol. They taste like.. McDonald's (Or Burger King, JIB, etc.) Which is great when im craving it. When i want a hamburger, i go to a greasy diner or make them on the grill. The only time i go to McDonald's, is not when i want a burger, its when i want McDonald's. Same with the other places.

Whataburger, around here anyway, is the fast food burger that gets the 'closest' to an actual burger.

[l3ulvl]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

I just stick to value menus. Whatever is a buck at taco bell works for me, I don't like all that extra junk anyway, don't need a beverage, don't need sides, just gimmie three $1 burritos and I'm good

[Caulfield]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

If I want just a small-type cheeseburger, it's McDonald's or Krystal's. If I want a big burger, it's a double Whopper from Burger King. We have a local chain around here called Hamburger Heaven and I love their jumbo bacon cheeseburger w/onion rings.

[pietasterp]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

On-topic, the price of fast food now really grinds my gears. Big time. It's supposed to be a fast and cheap option. At this point, it's neither one.

My tiers of fast food:

Top tier = Arby's, KFC
Mid-tier = Taco Bell, Burger King, Wendy's
If in a bind = McDonald's, Subway

I tried to keep it to places that are pretty much everywhere in the US (for example, of course In-N-Out is top-tier, but most people in the country don't have one available to them).

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

There isn't enough money on Earth to make me eat Subway. I was always partial towards Wendy's quad they had back in the day. Now I just settle for their Dave's Triple. In high school, the double stack was king. Pretty much ate at Wendy's everyday during high school lunch period and while in college.

I miss Checkers/Rally's. Haven't had their food in 15 years. Over all though my favorite food to eat are gyros and Italian beef sandwiches. Moved to Vermont and they don't know what either one is in this state. So for a gyro I have to go to New York or New Hampshire. Neither one heard of an Italian beef though. Living in the Midwest I use to eat both every week. My wife have no idea what an Italian beef is and before she met me, she never knew what a gyro was either.

[l3ulvl]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

There isn't enough money on Earth to make me eat Subway. I was always partial towards Wendy's quad they had back in the day. Now I just settle for their Dave's Triple. In high school, the double stack was king. Pretty much ate at Wendy's everyday during high school lunch period and while in college.

I miss Checkers/Rally's. Haven't had their food in 15 years. Over all though my favorite food to eat are gyros and Italian beef sandwiches. Moved to Vermont and they don't know what either one is in this state. So for a gyro I have to go to New York or New Hampshire. Neither one heard of an Italian beef though. Living in the Midwest I use to eat both every week. My wife have no idea what an Italian beef is and before she met me, she never knew what a gyro was either.

One of my saddest days of discontinued food was when my local Kroger stopped selling their brand of italian provolone hoagie burger patties. They were amazing. When they had the clearance sale I bought every box available.


these:

Spoiler

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

Oh wow, that look awesome.